Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan, who played the suave, unflappable 007 in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, flaunts a can of pan masala in ads that debuted on Friday in newspapers, billboards and channels.

Squinting Bond-style, the now-bearded 63-year-old might well be holding a Walther P99 gun for all the flourish - not the betel nut-based mouth freshener that leaves red stains after being chewed or spat out.

In the television ad, it is vintage Brosnan fighting baddies, flirting with women and pulling daring stunts, armed with his trusty... pan masala.

"Class never goes out of style," the Irish actor says at end of the ad.

The campaign created by DDB Mudra and shot in Texas, blends the pan masala brand with the epitome of sophistication. Some are calling it clever, others positively outrageous.

"Our choice of Pierce Brosnan as brand ambassador for Pan Bahar is in line with our campaign idea of 'Pehchan Kamyabi Ki' (the mark of success). Thanks to his previous avatar as James Bond, Mr Brosnan is seen the world over as a symbol of sophistication, suavity and success. And Pan Bahar, as his choice, reflects that aspiration in the consumer base we were targeting," said Sambit Mohanty of DDB Mudra.

Diehard Bond fans are decidedly shaken.

Shocking, positively shocking, said Internet, to quote a famous Bond line.